Ghillie-Dhu

If your enduring experience of traditional culture in the capital is limited to a three-second blast of Flower of Scotland from the piper on the corner of Princes Street, The Skinny cannot urge you strongly enough to visit this West End homage to all things Caledonia. While Ghillie-Dhu bills itself first and foremost as a restaurant, the events calendar is shaping up to furnish this new venue as a major player in gigging, theatre and stand-up circuits, with a drive towards regular ceilidhs and traditional dram festivals.
The menu is, however, an undeniable draw. Locally-sourced ingredients are united with classic Scots dishes to give the various menu options (Mains, Fresh Bloomer Sandwiches, Char-Grill) on offer a brilliant authenticity. Even better, careful little cultural references to Scotland's epic love affair with food and drink (the Deuchars beer-battered haddock; Marshall's macaroni cheese) are a welcome reminder that it doesn't begin and end with frying Mars Bars.
Go go go.